T&F: Regina ready to host 2025 CW Track and Field Championships

Feb. 20, 2025 - Despite frigid temperatures across the western Canadian prairies, expect the action inside the City of Regina Fieldhouse to be red hot this weekend.

The University of Regina Cougars are ready to welcome competitors from eight different schools to the Queen City for the 2025 Canada West Track and Field Championships, taking place Feb. 21 and 22.

Fans can catch all the action live on Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.

A pair of programs will look to continue their dynasty status, as the Saskatchewan Huskies women and Manitoba Bisons men have dominated the event in recent years.

Saskatchewan claimed their sixth-straight women's title last year, surpassing the Huskies previous conference record of five-straight from 1997-2001.

Manitoba will look for a fourth-straight men's banner after completing the three-peat last year in Edmonton. In doing so, the Bisons became the first men's team since the 1999-06 Saskatchewan Huskies to win three-straight titles.

This year's competition includes competitors from Regina, Saskatchewan, Calgary, Lethbridge, Alberta, Trinity Western, Victoria and Manitoba.

To stay up-to-date on the weekend's events, visit the championship homepage for schedule and live scoring information.

Multiple CW programs feature in latest U SPORTS Rankings

Saskatchewan enters as the highest nationally ranked Canada West women's program, placing third in the latest U SPORTS national rankings behind only Western and Guelph. Calgary was close behind in fourth, while Manitoba (7), Regina (9) and Victoria (10) also rounded out the top ten.

On the men's side, Manitoba sits second in the nation, trailing only Western. Alberta (5) and Regina (9) were the only other CW programs to crack the top ten in the latest rankings. ​

Student-athletes to watch

Fans will be treated to plenty of high calibre competition this weekend. Here are a few student-athletes to keep an eye on at the event:

Regina Cougars: The hosts will have lots for the home town fans to get excited about this weekend. Distance runner Jonathan Podbielski will look to continue his dominant season, recently breaking the school's 3000-metre run record earlier this month in Boston. He now holds school records in the 1000, 1500, and 3000 as well as in the 4x800-metre relay. The Cougars women's team will be led by Shelaine Pritchard, who recently matched a Cougars school record with a personal-best time of 7.50 seconds in the 60-metre dash, ranking her eighth in the nation and third in Canada West.

Calgary Dinos: A pair of defending national champions highlight the Dinos roster. Combined event specialist Sienna MacDonald has been must-watch every time she steps foot on the track. The fourth-year athlete is coming off a spectacular showing at the Pandas Open event in Edmonton, highlighted by an eye-popping time of 7.97 seconds in the 60m hurdle prelims. That time not only shattered meet and school records but was also the 12th fastest time recorded in the world this year. She also turned in the top long jump mark in U SPORTS at that event, reaching 6.23m. High jumper Noel Vanderzee will look to defend his conference title, and currently sits second in the nation this year with a high jump mark of 2.10m.

Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas: Second year pole vaulter Rachel Grenke continues to reach new heights for the Pandas, setting a new program record earlier in January after successfully reaching 4.22m at the Golden Bears Open. Meanwhile, thrower Wesley Eze will be a gold medal threat for the Golden Bears, as the defending CW shot put champion has been in strong form all season. He claimed two golds at the Golden Bears Open back in January, finishing first in men's shot put (16.06m) and weight throw (17.58m).

Lethbridge Pronghorns: Thrower Jinaye Shomachuk is always a medal threat for the Pronghorns, recently taking first place in both the women's shot put (12.06m) and weight throw (18.95m) at the Golden Bears Open. She has the third farthest weight throw in U SPORTS this season and is tops among Canada West competitors.

Manitoba Bisons: The defending conference champion Bisons men's team will be led by a pair of outstanding runners in Jordan Soufi and Dawson Mann. Soufi is the defending Canada West 60m champ and the current school record holder, while Mann is currently ranked first in the nation in the 600m and one of only two athletes in school history to run sub-1:17:00 in the event. On the women's side, Madisson Lawrence enters the championships already hitting auto standard in the triple jump, high jump and pentathlon. Lara Denbow is the defending conference gold medalist in the high jump, winning last year's competition with a 1.71m jump. Lawrence and Denbow enter the weekend currently sitting first and second, respectively, in the national rankings in high jump.

Saskatchewan Huskies: While the defending champion Huskies women's team sports great depth up and down their roster, they will count on Avery Pearson to be a gold medal threat. Pearson enters the competition ranked second in the nation in both 600m and 1000m events, and recently set a new program record of 1:27.34 in the 600m at the Penn State National Open. Michael Hussey also impressed at the Penn State event, running the men's 600m in 1:18.17, the third fastest time in program history and a U20 Canadian record.

Victoria Vikes: The Vikes have thrived on the track so far this season, led by Marisha Thompson who is ranked No. 2 nationally in the 3000m (9:20.38) and Tate O'Brien, who is ranked third nationally in the 600m (1:17.63). Both have hit the auto qualifier for those events and now look to add a CW medal to their resumes. The Vikes will also be podium favourites in the relay events. Their men hold the top Canada West 4x800m time so far this season, clocking in at 7:32.85. Their women rank third in the national 4x800m rankings with a season best 8:56.35, trailing only Saskatchewan and Sherbrooke.

Trinity Western Spartans: Daniel Earles currently leads the nation with a 33.70 time in the men's 300m. Sheleena Wiley is 10th in the nation in long jump with a season best 5.91m.

U SPORTS Nationals Headed to Windsor

Competitors will be looking to earn their spots at the 2025 U SPORTS Track and Field National Championships, to be hosted by the University of Windsor at the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse from March 6 to 8.